Title: Whom shall I choose?
Summary: When things got dead wrong…destiny started to change….And if you had forgotten your memories of the past…Will you still be able to remember how to care…and to love? Based on BBI game Pride!Ed. None YAOI! Just a brotherly love from Envy…Hope you enjoy my 1st FMAFanFic!
Disclaimer Notice! I do not own any of the FMA things…and the BBI things too…None of them are my property….Hope they are… :'(
Author's Note! Thanks for the two reviews!
To In the Forest: All of your questions shall be answered in the future chapters to come. So, Stay Tuned! And let you curiosity drive you in continuously reading and following this story...:)
To MissMaraudersMap: *Cries hard* Where are you going? I'm going to miss your reviews...! :(((
Sorry, for being so dramatic! Here's the NEW chapter! ^_^!
Chapter Ten…
~Normal Point of View ~
(Author's Note! Oops! Sorry guys! I forgot to include this one on the previous chapter….or on the previous-previous one, but any-who, this is the lost part of the story) ^_^! Gomenazai! :'(
After Al dropped the dagger he was holding, he hugged Ed so tight that Winry had to stop him before he suffocates his long-lost brother. Winry offered him to take Ed to his room so that they can talk to each other, you know, in private. Saying that since he was the most affected one, he should have his own private time with him. Alphonse agreed, even though he had doubts that Winry, and his teacher was hiding something from him. He shrugged his thoughts and led his brother to Ed's room.
(A/N: Now back to the real chapter:)
They are now, on Ed's room…..
Al loosened the hugged he gave to Ed. He wiped his last tears and mentally readied himself to face his brother. He sat in front of him. "Hey…" he said, nearly a whisper. This was the only word he could ever think of at that time.
Ed, who was sitting only a few inches away, stares at him with his normal dull eyes. "Nii-san…." Al could only mutter in response.
He giggled a little as slight memory flashed within his mind. Yes, the memories of the old days.
FLASHBACK
~ Alphonse's Point of View ~
He was just seven years old and I was six. We we're running carelessly at the riverbank. Playing, running along, and not minding anything at all. Let's just say that we're just too naïve from the problems this world had. "Nii-san!" I called him, he was running so fast that I became afraid that he shall leave me behind.
I felt my knees weakened as I hit the ground, hard. I sat up and curled into a ball, hugging my thighs. I cried, knowing that he had left. But then, I noticed someone's presence. I looked up, with the hopes that the next person that I shall see was him. And indeed….
I was right.
I gazed at him, with my eyes still wet, and with tears still streaming down my already wet cheeks. "Nii-san…" I said between my sobs. "Tss….You're such a crybaby…." He said, annoyed. He offered his hand. I took it and stood up, now facing him. I stared at the golden eyes of my brother.
Surprisingly, he hugged me closed.
"Never…show your weakness…" he whispered in my eyes. He loosened his hugged and pats me at my head, with his gently smile, that is.
"Never cry again…..specially in front of your nii-san…"
Al sniffed as he remembered his last words towards him. "Go-gomen ne, nii-san…(So-sorry brother)…..for showing my weak side again…." He said, softly. He bowed, and stared for a moment at the ground, making sure that not a single tear would ever shed in his eyes again.
"With nii-san at this state, I should…..remain strong for him…" Al mentally said to himself. He straightened himself, along with his newly revived soul. He gazed at his brother and smiled softly.
His eyes…Dull as ever…
All of a sudden, he heard a weird sound emitting from his stomach. He glanced at it, and gently pressed his hands against it. He giggled softly and gazed at the dark sky. "Oh…..I almost forgot about lunch….and dinner…" he said, with a down face. Within a slight time interval, another sound echoed across the silent room. He gazed at the person seated before him.
That sound, didn't came from him. He knew…..
It came from Pride…
Pride stared curiously at his stomach. "Wh-when did-" he was lost in his thoughts, when suddenly another strange sound emitted from his stomach. He clenched his stomach and stared at it. "There was something wrong….." he muttered his thoughts. "I think….there was something hiding inside my body…..something dangerous…..I could feel it…" he said.
Alphonse can't stop himself from laughing. Pride stared blankly at him. "Th-that's a good one…..Nii-san…" he said, in-between his slowly fading laughter. He slowly wiped his tears.
But this time, it wasn't that of depression…but of happiness…
When he looked back at his brother, he saw staring at him with his eyes lingering with happiness. Of seeing him? Or by being with him? He can't say for sure. But, alas…..everything has its end.
It only took a minute before his brother blinked again. And this time, his eyes were reverted back to its normal dull look.
His eyes, no longer signify hope.
He sighed in disappointment. He stood up and brushed off the dust in his pants. He headed at the door. He turned the knob and gave a one last look at his brother who seemed to be lost in his thoughts.
He let out another disappointed sighed, "I'll be right back…brother….I'll return with something for you to eat.….." He smiled. He gently closed the door behind, and left the room and with his brother in it.
Not knowing that it might be the last time he could ever see his brother, again. Or it isn't?
~…..~
Slowly, he took the path downstairs, sighting heavily with every step he took. When he was halfway through, he could hear arguing voices. He couldn't distinguish the voice clearly, so he took the initiative and walked closer to the ground floor. He halted as he understands what they are talking about…..barely…
"I can't just leave!" Izumi yelled, trying her very best to make them understand her point. "You can't just trust him! You said yourself that you had found him in the alleyways! So, there's no telling who he is!"
"She's right, Colonel…She had a point…." Riza added. "But! You saw how he reacted to him! I knew! I could tell that HE was indeed Al's brother!" Winry said, adding flames to the argument. "It isn't that I do not believe that he was Ed, it's just that….he…..he just showed up…" Izumi said, slowly losing her composure as a courageous woman. "I mean…he had gone a year ago…in that abandoned building…."
Alphonse can't help but to interrupt the tensioned argument. "What happened a year ago?" he asked. Four pair of eyes, stared at him, like they are awe that he might figured out something he wasn't supposed to know. "Al!" Winry's voice greeted him, as if nothing had happened. And he was aware of it. "Winry…Sensei….Please, tell me what happened….the thing….you are talking about…I mean, arguing.." He said, as he walked towards them.
Izumi clenched her fist. "I….I do-don't know what to tell, and I'm in no position to…." She said, hesitant with her words. She gazed at Roy and looked at him like she was blaming him for all the troubles. Roy cleared his throat, thinking that SHE was right, and that HE was the one….In positioned to tell the story.
"We found both of you, Colonel, Al….in an abandoned building, injured…..with soft cuts on your skins…." Riza said, or interrupted.
But, Roy motioned her to stop. "Alphonse…My memories are not as vivid as it may seems, but I can tell you what I remembered that day….." he said, with his usual military-kind of voice. "If you wanted to hear…..that is…." He said more like a threat. Al gulped all his fears and doubts at the same time. "Bring it on…" he said, putting all his courage into it. Roy sighed and began his little story telling.
"Colonel….." he felt a soft hand shook his broad shoulders. He gazed up only to see Riza smiling gently at her. And yes, he could feel his face burning. "Um…..Well, morning for you….." He could only say in response. "Morning? It's already nighttime…." Riza replied. "So it's evening, huh?" He sat up and rubbed his eyes.
Riza looked at him…thinking, "He looks really cute…" Then later on, mentally scolding herself for ever thinking about it. She sighed. "Colonel….." she could only mutter this word. Practically, she was now daydreaming.
"Riza….hey! Riza!" Roy called her name, the fifth time to be exact. Riza immediately snapped out of her 'daydreaming' and returned her normal matured composure. "Yes, Colonel?" she asked her, with some of the paper works wrapped on her arms. Well, there not technically hers to begin with, she just wanted to help him.
"You are now dismissed…." Roy said. Riza placed the papers in the table and saluted at her superior. Roy saluted in return. "Riza, you are now dismissed."
Riza lifted the papers again and returned to her desks. She was fixing her things when she heard the phone rang. Roy immediately answered it. "Yes?" he heard him say. She stopped her work and stared at him for a while. Wondering who on earth would call him this late at night. "Yes….speaking…..why?" he heard him ask again.
"Yes…..please connect him immediately…" Roy replied. He was so pissed off with this kind of formality, or such. Why can't the damn lady just gave him his phone call? Oh well…Their conversation only lasted about a minute or two. She just asked him questions, stupid questions like, "Hello? Is this Col. Mustang? Can I speak to him, please?" Like who the hell would answer the phone that was connected directly at his desk? But, he can't deny the fact that he may not be able to answer it….If emergency occurred. "An outside phone call occurred….and someone was asking permission to speak to you sir…" Tss…..why did they ever replaced the first one? This one is a newbie! An irritating newbie!
"Yes….please connect him immediately…" There was seconds of silent when suddenly, a familiar voice spoke from the other line.
"Colonel Roy Mustang? It's me Al….Alphonse Elric" it said.
"Oh, hello Al! Good Evening! Why the sudden call?" Roy said, he glanced at Riza only to find her staring at him, with curious eyes.
"Um….I was…you know, asking….If Ed….was there…." Al replied, hesitant with his words.
"Ed?!" Roy was shocked at things he just heard. He wanted to clarify things with Al. "Ed…..he wasn't here…..I thought…..No, I remember him saying his farewells two hours ago…..he even said that he wanted to go home early so you wouldn't…..worry…" Now, he was feeling sick. Roy didn't know if these words were the right ones to reply.
"Um…But, Colonel…..he wasn't here….."
Alphonse was shocked at the things he just heard. Yes, he remembered some things or events like that, but….there….there are things that are missing…..what are those?
"Wh-what happened next?" he asked. "Colonel….what happened next?"
Roy glared at him with eyes so deadly he didn't know for sure if he was mad at him for ever asking him such favors. Roy sighed.
"I remember searching for him for three days…..Well, I'm not alone…" he said while glancing at Izumi who crossed her arms and stared at some distant place. "WE, to be exact are searching for him….." he added.
"And after three days, fortunately, we found some clues…..that led us to his location….."
"Doko? (Where)"
"In an abandoned building….."
"Yes! We finally found him!" Al said, gladly as he pointed at an abandoned building. Roy wanted to calm him down. "Al…..we can't be so sure…" he said. "Bu-but! I knew! I could somehow sense his aura in here! I knew it might look weird! Bu-but!" Al tried reasoning out. Roy just sighed and followed an overwhelming and excited Al.
They entered the building. There were broken window, cracked ceiling, walls, and floors. It looked really abandoned. Then, they noticed the stairways that led to the basement (or so-called).
We we're hesitant at first, whether we'll call Riza first before we head there or not. Alphonse shook his head in disagreement. "I think…..it will be better if we head there first…."
I nodded in return.
We had only taken small of amount of steps when someone blocked our way. "The Fuhrer….."
Roy gave him a deadly glare. "King Bradley…"
The one standing before them, gave a devilish smile. The evil smile of a villainous villain. "Is that how to greet your 'superior', Colonel Mustang?" he asked them, teasingly. "I don't remember having a 'devil' as my superior…."
Then, they started to clash swords with swords…..
"The battle was intimidating…I almost thought that I would lose…" Roy said, in-between his heavy sighs. "But, fortunately I've won….heavy wounded…."
Roy walked slowly, with his left hand clenching his right arm. There was a big slice on his shoulder…..and it was bleeding so badly that he had to…..you know, burned it a little.
There was a door ahead of him. He clenched his arm tighter. "Al…" he could only mutter his name. He took all of his strength and walk, towards the same door.
"Nii-san!" he heard Al's voice as he turned the knob and opened the door. But, what welcomed him there, was despairing.
Roy looked up, only to see a confused Alphonse staring at the ground. Al glared at his hand in awe. He looked like he foresees something terrible. Foresees? Or saw?
Winry walked to him and placed a gentle warm on his shoulder. But, Al seemed to be lost in much deeper thoughts. He held his head with his right arm, and shivered a little.
A while later, he started shaking and was immediately down on his knees. "Al!" Winry said and sat next to his. She could hear his whispered thoughts.
"Nii-san…Blood…Circle….Alchemy…Dark…." she heard him whispering those words. But, she was wrong. Everyone, every single person in the room had heard his words. Probably because of the fact that the room was silent ever since Al came down the living room.
"Al….it's gonna be alright…." Winry said assuring him. But Al seemed to be deaf with his surroundings. He stared at her with shock, fear, and pain. "Winry…Brother…..he….."
These we're his last words before he fell unconscious. Winry grabbed him by his shoulders and immediately pulled him into a warm hugged. Everyone in the room was saddened that they had almost cried.
Winry, can't hold her tears any longer and had cried in his shoulders. Her tears, streaming down uncontrollably on her face. She cried, of loneliness, of pity, of sadness, and of terror of what was there to come. "Alphonse….."
On the other hand, Riza gave a reassuring smile to his superior. Roy looked back at her, surprised by her current actions. "I…thanks…..Riza…" he could only say in response. Riza felt her cheeks heated a little. She looked at the unconscious Al. "Colonel…..what ever happened in that building must have been too…..seriously bad….." Riza said, still lost with her words. She can't find the appropriate words for her response.
Roy sighed in return. "I can feel that it's much worse than what we think it is….." he said. He made another heavy sighed again.
"Now, I'm not too sure if I really wanted to remember that thing…..Or…..
Just let it be…."
Author's Note! Okay, so if anyone had a hard time reading the slight Loving-loving thing of Roy and Riza just review or PM me. And about the missing piece in the chapter, I'm truly sorry! :'(
So, I'm reminding everyone that this story is BASED on the Pride!Ed Ending of the Bluebird's Illusion, and to sum it all up, I haven't even played it! I just read it in a blog spot. The translation of the whole game in English…..Yeah! Since, I can't understand Chinese stuffs. So, Gomen ne, if there are any mistakes regarding the flashbacks of that time. :p
Everyone! Read and Review! Please! It really made me happy! J
Stay Tuned! For the next updates! ^_^!